Portable bag storage apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable bag storage apparatus including an elongated bag body constructed with a non-distensible major part and having a first cross section for receiving rolled up articles of a first size and incorporating an expansion strip formed of stretchable material to provide for stretching the bag body from the first cross section to a second cross section for accommodating larger sized rolled up articles. The bag further includes an opening and a fastener device enabling selective insertion of the rolled up articles into the bag body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to document storage devices, and more specifically, to readily transportable protecting casings for storing and transporting oversized printed materials in a rolled up configuration.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] It is often necessary to transport blueprints of many different sizes, oversized engineering drawings, architectural drawings, canvases and other relatively large materials from place to place such as for reference at a job site. Since it preferable to transport the drawings in a rolled up configuration as opposed to folding which might introduce creases, often the drawings are simply rolled up and held in a tightly rolled configuration with a rubber band. The rolled up package is then hand carried to the job site. In the absence of a protective casing, the drawings may degrade due to exposure to environmental hazards or from undesirable impacts. Such degradation often occurs in the form of distorted figures or markings and/or torn edges rendering the drawings unreadable or unusable thus requiring additional drawings to be generated.

[0005] An early proposal for a case used to transport an oversized map is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,293,979 to Hopkins. Such case is constructed of a flexible outer covering formed by two sheets of transparent material for sandwiching a map therebetween. The case includes several reinforcement strips attached around its borders and adapted to, in an unrolled condition hold the map in a rigid, flat configuration for viewing. The strips may be removed and placed along one edge and the casing rolled up with the map on the inside offering some protection for the map.

[0006] Another proposal is the carrier tube found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,917 to Hayashi. Such tube includes a liner having two pouches comprised of a flexible material for providing a backing for a print or document. The print is placed within the pouches of the liner which is then wound around a mandrel to wind the print into a cylindrical shape. A clip may be slid over the end of the mandrel to hold the liner in place. The mandrel with rolled up liner is then inserted into a hollow rigid carrying tube. Ends caps are placed over the ends of the mandrel and a cap is also placed over the open end of the tube to protect the contents therein. There are several drawbacks to this construction. Incorporation of the mandrel limits the number of documents that may be placed therein and adds to the overall weight of the tube. The tube itself is rigid thus occupying considerable space, even when not in use.

[0007] Yet another container is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,424 to Chappars. The Chappars containers includes at least two layers of flexible material forming a pocket for containing relatively flat articles such as newspapers in either a flattened or rolled up configuration. Three rows of spaced apart strips of hook and loop material are disposed on the outer surface of the layers enabling the formation of an open ended tube of two different diameters for accommodating newspapers of two different sizes when the layers are rolled up into a cylinder.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,175 to Wellman discloses another example of a portable document storage device. The Wellman device includes a number of watertight envelopes secured on one end from a backing member. Documents are placed within the envelopes and the entire backing member can be rolled up into a tightly rolled open ended cylindrical configuration.

[0009] A review of these package carriers reveals that it is apparent that selection of multiple containers is often required to transport materials rolled up into different sized packages. This is burdensome as multiple containers must be carried from one site to another and the contents must be labeled to avoid being separated. Additionally, the containers are often sized much larger than their intended contents and thus the contents are free to move within the carrier and incur damage and unravel from their rolled up configuration.

[0010] What is needed and heretofore unavailable is a lightweight, transportable carrier for storing, transporting, and protecting rolled up articles of first and second configurations thereby removing the necessity of transporting multiple containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lightweight, portable bag storage apparatus for storing rolled up sheets of material is provided and includes an elongated tubular bag body having a major part of non-distensible material and having a first cross section for receiving smaller rolled up tubes of material and an expanded cross section for receiving larger rolled up tubes of material. The bag body further includes a longitudinal expansion strip formed of a stretchable material forming an expansion zone which is expandable enabling the bag body to stretch from the first cross section to assume the enlarged second cross section. A longitudinal opening closable by a fastener device is openable for selective insertion of the tubes into the bag body.

[0012] In another feature of the present invention, pockets and carrying straps are attached to the bag body to facilitate additional storage capacity and transportability.

[0013] Yet another feature of the present invention is the incorporation of a plurality of expansion strips wherein the non-distensible part comprises about 80-90% of the transverse circumference of the bag body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable bag storage apparatus embodying the present invention in an expanded configuration;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 in a contracted configuration;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in an open configuration;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a top view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a semi-folded configuration;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a folded configuration;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 1; and

[0021]FIG. 8 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 2.

[0022] Numerous advantages and aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings which generally provide illustrations of the invention in its presently preferred embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a transportable storage apparatus, generally designated 10, is provided for storing and transporting one or more oversized materials within a protective covering. The portable bag storage apparatus 20 is typically provided for storing, transporting, and protecting a sheet, such as an engineering drawing or blueprint, while in a rolled up configuration, generally designated 21. In practice multiple sheets may be rolled up into one or more drawing packages and placed inside the bag and transported between a drafting site and a job site or other location. Advantageously, the bag apparatus is formed of flexible materials such that the bag may be folded up and stored in a reduced profile configuration when not in use.

[0024] In general terms, the bag storage apparatus 20 includes a non-distensible first section 22 comprising the majority of the circumference of the bag and an expansible second section 24 cooperating together to form an elongated, tubular bag body 26 generally divisible into an insertion region 23, a central region 25, and a closed region 27. At the outermost portion of the insertion region is an openable end 28 for inserting a drawing package 21 into the bag body 26. At the opposite end of the bag body 26 in the closed region is a closed end 30 forming the bottom extent of the bag body 26. As further illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tubular bag body 26 is constructed to provide a contracted cross sectional area, generally designated 38, for storing drawing packages 21 up to a predetermined size and further constructed to assume an expanded cross sectional area, generally designated 40, for storing drawing packages 21 relatively greater in size than the predetermined size. To assume the enlarged cross sectional area 40, the bag body 26 incorporates expansion strips 42 formed in the second section 24 and projecting longitudinally through all three regions 23, 25, and 27. Such expansion strips are constructed to increase in width and also stretch outwardly in a radial direction. An opening 44 defined between confronting edges 46 within the insertion region 23 projects longitudinally through the major section 22 and further projects around the openable end 28. The edges 46 are secured together with a fastener device 48 which draws the opposing edges together and seals the bag contents within the bag body 26.

[0025] The bag body 26 is formed by sewing or otherwise joining a first panel 50 to a second panel 52 along longitudinal seams. Both panels include a non-distensible material such as canvas sewn on one edge to a longitudinal expansion strip 42 made of stretchable fabric such as a stretchable nylon material or other suitable material. The first and second panels 50 and 52 are arranged so that the expansion strips 42 are positioned between the longitudinal edges of the canvas sections and then sewn together to create a generally tubular shaped sleeve with opposing ends 28 and 30. Thus, the non-distensible material and expansion strips are formed in a circumferentially alternating arrangement. The canvas and stretchable materials used in the panels are flexible enabling a user to fold the bag 20 when not in use.

[0026] While the bag 20 is primarily designed for the storage and transportation of rolled up materials and thus is preferably constructed to form a cylindrical cross section, other suitable cross sections will be apparent to those of ordinary skill. When in unstretched condition, the expansion strips 42 may be slightly recessed or pressed inwardly from the outer surface of the canvas sections to further protect them from normal wear and tear when not in use. The canvas sections are selected to handle a relatively larger degree of wear and tear and may be provided in a variety of color schemes.

[0027] The outermost extent in the closed region 27 of the bag sleeve is sewn closed forming the closed end 30 while the opposing end 28 of the bag in the insertion region 23 remains open. A slit is introduced starting at periphery of the open end 28 within one of the canvas sections and cut about one-third of the way down the length of the sleeve on one side and about one-quarter of the way on the opposing side cooperating with the open end of the bag body 26 to create the opposing edges 46 with openable flaps 56 within the insertion region 23. The open end 28 is pinched together and the fastener device 48 is sewn into the opposing edges 46.

[0028] The fastener device 48 is preferably in the form of a zipper with a set of complementary teeth lining the opposing edges such that the zipper handle 58 may be pulled in one direction so that the flaps 56 (FIG. 3) may be opened for insertion of the sheet package. Pulling the zipper handle in the opposite direction secures the flaps to one another to seal the bag body and protect the contents therein. The zipper is preferably plastic but may be formed of any suitable material such as metal. Other fasteners including hook and pile panels sold under the trademark Velcro® and other suitable fasteners will occur to one of ordinary skill. Advantageously, the longitudinal opening projects onto one end 28 of the bag body 26 in to accommodate those infrequently encountered situations where the length of the drawings in a rolled up configuration exceeds the length of the bag.

[0029] After the panels 50 and 52 are joined together and the ends 28 and 30 are formed, the bag body 26 is preferably 30-36 inches in length and forms a first cross section 38 preferably circular and measuring approximately five inches in diameter when in an unexpanded state (FIGS. 2 and 8). The expansion strips 42 measure approximately two inches in width and project from one end of the bag to the other. The expansion strips are selected to stretch in a radial direction to allow the bag to assume an expanded configuration with a six and one-half inch diameter when in the fully expanded condition 40 (FIGS. 1 and 7). In other words, the overall circumference can stretched about 30 percent. The canvas sections 22 are relatively non-distensible. It will be appreciated that the selection of an expansion strip with a relatively large stretch percentage may be slimmer in width and achieve the same results as a wider expansion strip with a lesser stretch percentage.

[0030] The preferred ratio of canvas material to stretchable nylon material as a percentage of the total diameter of the bag in a relaxed position or unexpanded state is about 8 or 9 to 1. In other words, about 80-90 percent of the circumference of an unstretched bag body 26 is canvas material.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment, two longitudinal expansion strips 42 allowing expansion of the bag in a radial direction are described. However, it will be appreciated that one longitudinal expansion strip may be used and that circumferential expansion bands (not shown) may also be incorporated into the bag to allow expansion in the longitudinal direction as well.

[0032] Transportation of the bag is advantageously facilitated by an elongated handle 60 sewn into the exterior surface of the bag body 26 within the central region 25 and an elongated carrying strap 62 having anchor points 63 sewn in the insertion region 23 and the closed region 27 respectively. Both the carrying strap and handle are preferably made of nylon. The handle 60 is sewn into canvas of the major section 22 of the bag body 26 on either side of its longitudinal midpoint so that, when grasped, the bag body may be balanced in a comfortable manner. The carrying strap 62 is removably attached to the bag body and also straddles the longitudinal midpoint of the bag body 26. The strap includes a catch 64 at both free ends which are releasably attachable to rings 66 sewn into the bag body on the canvas portion. The strap is preferably adjustable using a sliding buckle 67 and is well known to one of ordinary skill. As the carrying strap 62 is removable, it may be stored inside the bag 20 when not in use.

[0033] Also located on the exterior surface of the bag body 26 within the closed region 27 is a pocket 70 having a closed bottom end 72 and an openable top end 74 with a securing flap 76 including a fastener preferably made from Velcro® with one portion of the hook and loop type fastener located on the outer pocket surface and the other portion of the hook loop type fastener on the inside of the flap 76 such that the pocket remains closed when the flap fastener overlies and abuts the complementary pocket fastener. The pocket is formed with side gussets 78 allowing for the pocket to expand to provide a larger internal compartment for storing pens, pencils, pads of paper, tape measures, and the like. The pocket 70 is formed of the same flexible but durable material comprising the major section of the bag body. When not in use the pocket is constructed to lay flat against the bag body to facilitate folding of the bag into a low profile package.

[0034] Advantageously, the bag body 26 is flexible and may be stored in a folded condition (FIG. 6). In its folded state, the length of the bag may be reduced by about two-thirds of its unfolded length (FIG. 2). Securing the bag in a folded state is an exterior fastener 80 preferably in the form of a snap fastener having complementary mating sections positioned centrally near the open end of the bag and also positioned near the longitudinal midpoint of the bag. The complementary mating sections are aligned such that when one third of the bag is folded over as illustrated in FIG. 5, the snap fastener snaps together and secures the folded insertion region 23 to the central region 25 of the bag body 26.

[0035] An interior fastener 82 also includes complementary mating portions positioned near the intermeshing teeth of the zipper fastener and also near the closed end 30 of the bag body 26 (FIG. 5). The one-third folded bag body may again be folded in half to align the complementary fastener portions and snap them together to secure the bag body in a tri-folded position (FIG. 6). The snap fasteners 80 and 82 are selected to allow a carrier to snap and unsnap the fasteners with a relatively minimal amount of effort. In its final tri-folded position, the pocket 70 is exposed allowing the user easy access to any contents therein. With all its components, the empty bag 20 remains lightweight and only weighs about 8 ounces empty and is preferably waterproof for protecting any contents inserted therein.

[0036] In operation, assuming the bag is an unused tri-folded position as illustrated in FIG. 6, the user would initially unfold the bag into an elongated body by grasping the exposed free end 30 of the bag and pulling it until the snap fastener 82 disengages and assumes the position illustrated in FIG. 5. The user grasps the opposing open end 28 and pulls the end with sufficient force away from the central portion of the bag until the interior snap fastener 80 disengages and the bag may be unfolded into its fully elongated position as illustrated in FIG. 2. To open the bag in preparation for the insertion of one or more sheets of material, the user grasps the zipper handle 5 8 and pulls it along the zipper length to separate the confronting edges 46 along the longitudinal section of the zipper 48 and over the openable end 28 of the bag.

[0037] The drawings or sheets of material are rolled up into a cylindrical configuration and maintained using a rubber band or other suitable fastener for maintaining the sheets in a rolled up configuration forming a drawing package. The flaps 56 are separated in preparation for insertion of the drawing package into the bag 20. One end of the rolled up drawing package 21 is then inserted into the open end 28 of the bag body 26 and pushed along the length of the bag body until its distal end is positioned against the closed end 30 of the bag. The user then grasps the zipper handle 58 and draws it along its length around the open end 28 and then along the longitudinal section until the zipper abuts the terminus of the zipper. Closing the zipper seals the sheets 21 within the bag body 26 and prevents environmental hazards from damaging the bag contents during transportation. Upon reaching the desired destination, the carrier grasps the bag 26 by its central region or lays the bag on a flat surface and then grasps the zipper handle 58 with a free hand and draws the zipper handle along the zipper teeth to separate the opposing edges 46 and flaps 56 creating an opening in the bag. The closest end of the drawings to the open end of the bag is grasped and the entire drawing package is withdrawn from the bag.

[0038] While the bag body 26 is dimensioned to accommodate a wide variety of drawing lengths and diameters, in certain situations it is desirable to store and transport a larger sheet package 21. In such cases, the present bag storage apparatus allows for the additional diametrical size requirements. In addition, at times instead of one rolled up sheet package several packages may need to be transported to a job site. To accommodate these occasions, the expansion strips 42 enable the bag to stretch in a radially outward direction to assume an enlarged diameter to receive the larger package size or additional packages. For example, the initial package 21 is rolled up into a cylindrical package having no more than a five inch diameter. Once the carrier is at the job site, additional drawings are added to the initial package creating a second rolled up package of greater than five inches in diameter but not greater than six and on-half inches in diameter. Due to the stretchability of the expansion strips 42, the bag body 26 may assume an expanded larger cross section 40 configuration to enclosed the larger size drawing package. In practice, after opening the bag as described above, one end of the larger drawing package would be inserted into the open end of the bag 20. As the ends of the drawing package encounters the interior of the bag body 26 its increased diameter forces both of the expansion strips 42 to stretch radially outwardly in equal amounts to provide a bag body having an enlarged cross sectional area 40 to accommodate the larger size package (FIGS. 1 and 7). In its stretched state, the bag body will encircle and be tautly drawn across the outer surface of the drawing package to maintain the drawing package's cylindrical shape.

[0039] If desired, the rolled up sheets 21 may be inserted into the bag without an encircling fastener and maintained in a loosely rolled up configuration by the sidewalls of the bag body 26. This facilitates unrolling the drawings and preventing damage from unrolling a rubber band from the sheet package which on occasion may tear the drawings. In addition, providing the opening across the openable end 30 of the bag 20 allows a carrier to accommodate drawings having a length longer than the length of the bag. In other words, if the drawing package 21 is too long for the selected bag 20, one end may remain protruding from the openable bag end. Thus, a carrier can protect most of the drawing package 21 until the carrier is able to procure a longer bag 20.

[0040] While the dimensions recited herein have been found to accommodate a large variety o drawings sheets encountered in the construction, engineering, and architectural, electronic, and software industries, these dimensions are not meant to be limiting and it will be appreciated that one of ordinary skill may incorporate a different set of dimensions and materials suitable for storing and transporting other materials without detracting from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable bag storage apparatus for storing up first and second sheets rolled up in respective small and large rolls and comprising: an elongated, tubular bag body constructed in major part of non-distensible material and having a first cross section for receiving said first sheets in the small tube and a second, expanded, cross section for receiving the second sheets rolled up in said large tube; said body including a longitudinal expansion strip formed of a stretchable material forming an expansion zone and expandable to provide for stretching of said body from said first cross section to said second cross section; said body further including an opening for selective receipt of said small and large tubes; and a fastener device for closing said opening whereby materials in a rolled up configuration may be inserted into said opening of said bag body which may be expanded to accommodate rolled up tubes having a cross section greater than said first cross section, said bag body may then be transported.
 2. The portable storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including: at least one pocket attached to bag body.
 3. The portable storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including: a first carrying strap attached to said bag body.
 4. The portable storage apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further including: a second carrying strap having a length greater than the length of said carrying strap.
 5. The portable storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said bag body is formed of a canvas material; and said expansion strip is formed of a stretchable nylon material.
 6. The portable storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said fastener is a zipper.
 7. The portable storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first cross section is approximately 5 inches in at least one direction.
 8. The portable storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said second cross section is at least approximately 6 and one-half inches.
 9. The portable bag storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said expansion strip may be stretched up to 70-80% of its respective width.
 10. The portable bag storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said non-distensible part is 80-90% of said bag body in transverse cross section.
 11. The portable bag storage apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including: a second expansion strip diametrically opposed to said longitudinal expansion strip and cooperating with said longitudinal expansion strip to provide for stretching of said bag body from said first cross section to said second cross section.
 12. A portable storage apparatus for storing materials in a rolled up configuration comprising: a first sheet of material having a stretchable region and a non-stretchable region; a second sheet of material having a stretchable region and a non-stretchable region; said sheets being joined along opposing longitudinal edges to form a bag body having diametrically opposing stretchable regions and having a first end formed with an opening and an opposing closed end; at least one handle secured to the exterior surface of one of said non-stretching sheets; a pocket attached to one of said non-stretching sheets; and a closure device for closing said opening.
 13. A portable bag storage apparatus for storing first and second sheets rolled up in small and large tubes comprising: an elongated body formed with a storage compartment, said body including carrying? means disposing a major portion thereof and longitudinal strip means, said canvas and strip means cooperating to, in a relaxed state, form said storage compartment in a small cross section for receipt of said small tube and further being cooperative to in a stretched state, to form said storage compartment with a larger cross section to receive larger tubes; a longitudinal opening having confronting edges projecting along a portion of said body; and a closure means for joining said confronting edges.
 14. A bag storage apparatus for storing sheets in a rolled up configuration of various diameters comprising: a cylindrical bag body measuring between 32-36 inches in length and having a major part of non-distensible material forming 90% of the circumference of said body and a recessed stretchable part running longitudinally between opposing ends of said bag body and forming 10% of the circumference of said bag body, said stretchable part being constructed to stretch up to 20% of its unstretched width; an openable end including a body section and a flap section having confronting edges; a closure means joining said confronting edges; and a removable suspension strap constructed to be releasably attached proximate said opposing ends of said bag. 